祂愿意万人得救，明白真道。——提摩太前书2:4
God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)
欢迎加入在多伦多神的家，与神的子民一同得着救恩，明白真道。
Welcome to join God’s family in Toronto, to receive salvation and pursue the truth together with God’s people.
第二章 夏娃的预表
Chapter Two The Type of Eve
【01 神要教会和基督一同掌权】
在创造的时候，人有两个，一个是亚当，另一个是夏娃。他们两个都是人，但是他们两个所预表的不同。罗马五章说，亚当乃是那以后要来之人的预像。亚当是预像，意思就是亚当预先表明出基督。换句话说，神所有在亚当身上的旨意，都要借着基督得着成功。
另一面，在创造里还有一个女人，就是夏娃。在创世记二章，神仔细的提起创造女人的事。到以弗所五章，就说夏娃是指着教会说的。由此可见神永远的旨意，一部分是借着基督成功的，另一部分是借着教会成功的。所以，要明白教会在地上如何成功神的旨意，就得从夏娃身上学功课。我们在这里所注意的，不是基督的工作，乃是教会在这个工作里，当站在什么地位上。
我们读创世记二章十八至二十四节，再读以弗所五章二十二至三十二节。在创世记二章里有一个女人，在以弗所五章里也有一个女人。第一个女人是预表－夏娃预表教会。第二个女人就是第一个女人。第一个女人是神在创世以前就定规的，是在堕落之前就显出来的。第二个女人也是在创世以前就定规的，却是在堕落之后才显出来的。虽然一个是显在堕落之前，一个是显在堕落之后，但在神的眼光中看来，并没有分别。教会就是创世记二章里的夏娃。神造亚当预表基督，神又造夏娃预表教会。神的目的不只需要基督来成功，并且也需要教会来成功。
创世记二章十八节：“耶和华神说，那人独居不好，我要为他造一个配偶帮助他。”神造教会的目的，就是要她作基督的伴侣。基督自己不过是一半，基督还有另外一半，就是教会。神说，“那人独居不好，”从神的眼光看来，光有基督还不好。创世记二章十八至二十四节是追述第六天的事。神在第六天造亚当，造好以后，好像神在那里想一想，说，不好，这人独居不好，于是就为亚当造了夏娃，这样才算完全了。到了这个时候，才是创世记一章末了所说的，“神看着一切所造的都甚好。”所以光有亚当，或者说光有基督，还不够满足神的心。在神看来，必须有夏娃，有教会，才够满足祂的心。
耶和华神说，“那人独居不好，”换句话说，神是要得着亚当和夏娃。神的目的是要得着一个得胜的基督，加上一个得胜的教会；神的目的是要得着一个胜过魔鬼工作的基督，加上一个推翻魔鬼工作的教会；神的目的是要得着一个掌权的基督，和一个掌权的教会。这是神所预定的事。神在祂心里这样定规，这是神为着祂自己的称心而做的，这是神为着祂自己的快乐而做的。神要这样做，所以才这样做。神要有一个基督，祂也要有一个与基督一样的教会。神不只要基督掌权，并且要教会和基督一同掌权。就是在荣耀里，基督也需要伴侣。基督争战需要伴侣，得荣耀也需要伴侣。神所要求于教会的，是一切和基督一样。神要基督有一个伴侣。
所以，神的旨意是要基督得着一个配偶，就是得着一个伴侣，也就是夏娃所预表的教会，并且要教会与基督一同掌权。
（未完待续 * 摘自《荣耀的教会》第二章 夏娃的预表 * 06-01）
【02 夏娃是出于亚当，教会是出于基督】
亚当需要一个配偶，神怎样做呢？创世记二章十九至二十节：“耶和华神用土所造成的野地各样走兽，和空中各样飞鸟，都带到那人面前看他叫什么；那人怎样叫各样的活物，那就是它的名字。那人便给一切牲畜、和空中飞鸟、野地走兽都起了名；只是那人没有遇见配偶帮助他。”神将各样的活物都带到亚当面前，但是没有一个是亚当的配偶。所有用土造的活物，都不能作亚当的配偶。
二十一节至二十三节：“耶和华神使他沉睡，他就睡了；于是取下他的一条肋骨，又把肉合起来。耶和华神就用那人身上所取的肋骨，造成一个女人，领她到那人跟前。那人说，这是我骨中的骨，肉中的肉，可以称她为女人，因为她是从男人身上取出来的。”这就是亚当的配偶，这就是预表以弗所五章所说的教会。这里说得很清楚，凡是用土造的，凡不是从亚当身上取出来的，都不能作亚当的配偶。所有的野兽、牲畜、飞鸟都是用土造的，都不是从亚当身上取出来的，它们都不能作亚当的配偶。我们要记得，夏娃是用亚当的肋骨造的，亚当是夏娃的原料。这就是说，教会是从基督出来的，出于基督的才是教会，不出于基督的就不是教会。
所以，什么是教会呢？必须是从基督身上取出来的那一部分，才是教会。我们要看到亚当的两方面，就不难领会这里面的意思。一方面是亚当的自己，一方面是亚当所预表的。亚当的自己，是用土所造的；一切天然的人都是用土所造的。至于亚当所预表的，就是基督。从亚当身上造出夏娃，这是预表从基督身上造出教会。夏娃是用亚当的肋骨造的，夏娃乃是从亚当产生的，夏娃还是亚当。所以教会是什么？教会是基督的另一个样子，因为夏娃就是亚当的另一个样子。
在这里，我们看见教会就是基督。许多人以为我们这些信主得救的“人”合在一起，就叫作教会。没有这件事。谁是教会？教会就是从基督身上取出来的那一部分。教会就是神用基督为原料所造出来的人（不是用土为原料所造出来的人）。教会的原料就是基督。没有基督，教会就没有地位，没有生命，没有生活，没有存在。教会，是从基督生出来的。
林前十章十七节说，“我们虽多，仍是一个饼，一个身体。”意即我们虽多，但是我们所擘的饼是一个，所以身体也是一个。保罗说这一个饼代表基督的身体，就是整个教会。人虽然多，但身体是一个。我把这一个饼擘一点下来吃，记念主；你把这一个饼擘一点下来吃，记念主；他把这一个饼擘一点下来吃，记念主；全世界古往今来的基督徒，每一个都拿一点吃进去，把所吃进去的那一点饼合起来，就是整个教会。
教会不是我这一个人加上你这一个人，不是姓王的加上姓李的，再加上姓张的，不是全世界所有相信基督的“人”合在一起就成功教会。教会乃是在你里面有一点基督，在他里面也有一点基督，在全世界古往今来所有的基督徒里面都有一点基督，把所有基督徒里面的那一点基督合在一起，就叫作教会。我们自己天然的成分与教会不发生关系。与教会发生关系的乃是我们所吃的那个饼里的一部分。
（未完待续 * 摘自《荣耀的教会》第二章 夏娃的预表 * 06-02）
【03必须是出于基督的，才是教会】
必须是出于基督的，才是教会。人的才干、人的本事、人的思想、人的能力、人自己的一切，都是在教会外面的。一切出于天然的，都是在教会外面。只有从基督出来的，才是在教会里面。夏娃不是用土造的，乃是用亚当造的，用那预表基督的亚当造的。宝贵就在这里：从亚当身上取出一条肋骨来造夏娃，从亚当出来的（不是从土出来的）才能叫作夏娃，从基督出来的才能叫作教会。凡不是从基督出来的，与教会一点关系都没有。
有的人在没有信主之先，直爽得很，他得救以后，就用这个直爽来事奉神，以为他这一个天然的直爽有用处，是可夸的。但是，问题在这里，就是他这个直爽是从那里来的？是不是出于基督的？有没有经过十字架的对付？如果不是出于基督的，从来没有经过十字架的对付，就对于教会没有用处。只有出于亚当的身体的，才能是夏娃。只有出于基督的，才能是教会。一切出于人自己的，都不是教会。
有的人口才很好，在没有信主的时候，会讲故事给人听，现在换了一个题目，是讲道给人听。可是，不要以为是讲道就不错，要问：他的口才是从那里来的？有没有经过十字架的对付？如果这个口才是原来就有的，从来没有经过十字架的对付，完全是出于天然的，那他就是把从属土的亚当来的东西带到教会里来，教会就被他拖下去了。出于基督的才是教会，一切出于天然的都不是教会。
有的人很聪明，有很好的头脑。从前是用这个头脑去研究哲学，研究科学，研究文学，现在得救了，就用这个头脑来研究神的话。但是，我们要问，他这一个好头脑是从那里来的？有没有经过十字架的对付？有没有服在圣灵的支配之下？如果是原来就有的，那就是出于属土的亚当的，出于人自己的，出于天然的，属乎血气的。他虽然换了题目，但是他的头脑仍旧是那一个老的头脑。他用那样的头脑读圣经，结果并不能帮助教会，反而要使教会受亏损。只有出于基督的才是教会，一切出于人的都不是教会。
我们要受神的对付到一个地步，能被神勒住一切出于天然的。我们天然的能力，必须经过十字架的对付，必须服在圣灵的支配之下，才能使教会不受亏损。那些从亚当天然的生命出来的，用土造的，都不是神所要的。只有用亚当身上那一根肋骨造的，才是夏娃。（骨头是指着复活的生命说的，所以主在十字架上的时候，没有一根骨头被折断）。那个从基督复活的生命里造出来的才是教会。
夏娃总得有亚当的骨头才可以。如果没有亚当的骨头，就不能成为夏娃。亚当的配偶，就是亚当的身体。夏娃生命的根源是从亚当的骨头出来的。亚当是她生存的根基。是因为有亚当的那一部分在她里面，所以她才能够生存。教会也是如此。我们永远要向主耶稣说，“‘都因着你！’没有你，我们就没有生命；没有你，我们就不能生存；没有你，我们就什么都没有；我们是从你而来的。”
重生的紧要就在这里：不是悔改使我们变作教会的一部分，不是认罪使我们变作教会的一部分，也不是相信使我们变作教会的一部分，乃是基督把祂的生命放在我们里面，才使我们成为教会的一部分。我们成为教会的一部分的根据乃是重生。因为基督把自己分给我们，所以我们行事为人只要凭着基督的生命就好了。神不能给我们做得比这更多。神将祂的儿子分给我们，使我们都有分于基督的生命。我们虽然是瓦器，但是有这宝贝放在瓦器里，所以就没有一件东西能够摇动我们。
我们如果凭着自己作人，那我们就是在教会的外面。除了基督的那一部分之外，就不是教会，乃是我们自己。如果我们想凭着自己来做工，就不是做主的工。我们要问自己：我们事奉主，做主的工，有属灵的追求，走属灵的道路，到底是凭着什么？是凭着基督而作呢，或者是凭着自己而作？如果凭着基督在那里作，就能成功神的目的。如果凭着我们自己去做，即使做好了，还是属土的，不能成功神永远的旨意。
（未完待续 * 摘自《荣耀的教会》第二章 夏娃的预表 * 06-03）
【04 基督的分给和个人的磨灭】
神永远的旨意，就是要得着一个人，这一个人，是一个“团体的人”，是从基督出来的，就是教会。教会不是几个基督徒加上几个基督徒，教会不是许许多多的“人”，教会乃是一个生命。教会所以成为教会，乃是因为这些人里面得着同一个生命，有同一位基督。你得着一部分基督，他得着一部分基督，每一个都得着一部分基督，把这些人所得着的基督合起来，才成功教会。我们要注意神所要得着的人，不是零碎的人。在神面前，基督只有一个，教会也只有一个。神看全世界只有两个人。林前十五章给我们看见，亚当是首先的一个人，基督是末后的一个人，一个都没有多。基督的身体，像夏娃一样，是一个，不是许多个。
所以，虽然在我们里面有了神的生命，但是神还得在我们身上做工到一个地步，把我们的个人主义打破。神要把我们以为“我个人就可以”的那种思想打破。我们要与神其他的众儿女合成一个才可以。夏娃只有一个，基督的身体只有一个。所有神的儿女，凡有分于基督的生命的，不是零零碎碎的许多人，乃是要成为一个人。神必须把我们的个人主义打破，一天过一天把我们摔碎，好使我们知道什么是身体的生命。
许多人以为他作基督徒可以由他一个人作。但是，事实上神不让他一个人作基督徒。许多时候，他一个人祷告不能得着答应，读圣经也不能领会，寻求神的旨意也不能知道，是要他对弟兄姊妹说：这件事我个人弄不通，请你帮助我。等到两个人祷告，就清楚了。他一个人不明白，两个人一寻求就明白了。许多时候，他还骄傲，以为自己能；许多时候，他以为不过这一次不行。这个就是他的个人主义。在教会中，必须把这个打碎才可以。要让我们里面的基督，和许多在别人里面的基督合起来，好成为基督的身体。
在基督里的生命，是所有真实的基督徒都知道的。可惜，在基督身体里的生命，却不是所有的基督徒都知道。基督的生命怎样是一个实实在在的东西，基督身体的生命也怎样是一个实实在在的东西。基督徒不是零零碎碎的，乃是合一的。保罗说，“我们虽多，仍是一个饼，一个身体”（林前十17）。如果你凭着基督而活，那么你和所有的基督徒就是成了一个。如果你凭着你自己而活，那么你就和神所有的儿女分开了。
所以，教会要成为教会，必须经过这两步：基督的分给和我们个人的磨灭。基督的分给，是在我们重生的时候就有的；个人的磨灭，是在我们得救之后，主在我们身上一天一天的做的，一直做到有一天，使我们能在神的面前说：没有一件事是凭着我个人能做的。什么都是以取得肢体的帮助的原则来做。什么都是以交通的原则来做，什么都是以身体的原则来做。教会是基督的身体，出乎基督的才是教会，出乎人的不是教会。
（未完待续 * 摘自《荣耀的教会》第二章 夏娃的预表 * 06-04）
【05 源头必须是基督】
我们要知道，神所注意的问题，不是好与坏的问题，乃是源头的问题。
人总是问好或不好，但神要问这是从哪里来的。从亚当身上出来的叫作夏娃，从基督身上出来的叫作教会。凡不是从基督身上出来的，就不是教会。人是问有爱心没有爱心，但神是问爱心从哪里来的。人是问有热心没有热心，但神是问热心从哪里来的。我们要解决的，是源头的问题，不是善恶的问题。
多少时候，我们以为自己能够爱人，能够帮助人，能够带领人，能够服事人。这些都是很好，但是，“舍己身叫人焚烧，却没有爱，”没有基督的爱，就“仍然与我无益”（林前十三3）。难道舍己助人还算错么？问题就在于：这是从哪里来的？凡出于基督的，才是教会；凡不是出于基督的，就与教会无关。
在基督徒的生活中，第一个功课是源头的问题，末了一个功课也是源头的问题。第一个功课是我不愿意有一件事是出于我自己的，末了一个功课也是我不愿意有一件事是出于我自己的。这并不是说我们不要追求，不要热心；这乃是说，我们所有的追求，所有的热心，要出于主的才可以。我们不是不要工作，我们乃是要出于主的工作。我们不是不要追求能力，我们乃是要追求出于主的能力。一切问题是在出乎谁。
在约翰福音里，主耶稣曾这样说，“子凭着自己不能做什么”（五19）。“凭着”按希腊文也可以译作“出乎”。子出乎自己不能做什么，主尚且如此，我们又怎能出乎自己做什么呢！我们总得在神面前看见，我们凭着自己一点都不能做什么；总得被神带到一个地步，认识我们凭着自己一点都不会做，只有借着主，出乎主才可以。
我们事奉主，不是光热心就是，乃是要做主所定规给我们的工。保罗在歌罗西一章里说，“我也为此劳苦，照着祂在我里面运用的大能，尽心竭力。”神在我们里面做，所以我们在外面做。多少时候，我们外面做了那么多，里面却没有那么多；神并没有做那么多，那么多都是我们自己做的。这样的工作，虽多无益。在事奉主的事情上，神必须把我们带到一个地步：不是出乎主的，我们就不要；主若不动，我们就不敢妄动。
夏娃是亚当“骨中的骨，肉中的肉”。里面的骨头，外面的肉，都是出于基督。里面的，外面的，都是出于基督。没有一件出于自己。夏娃的一切都是出于亚当，教会的一切都是出于基督。我们自己不管做得多好，在成功神永远的旨意上一点用处都没有；我们自己不管做得多好，不能荣耀神的名，因为那是出于我们自己的。
第一个女人，是代表神心意的女人。不只有一个男人代表神的心意，也有一个女人代表神的心意；不只基督满足神的心，还有教会满足神的心。基督满足神的心，因祂自己不作元首，让神作祂的元首；教会也是这样，也得让神作她的元首。当教会到这样地步的时候，神的旨意就能通行。神要有这样的人在地上，神的心意才能满足。让我们记得：从人自己出来的都是土，都不是配偶的材料，只有从基督出来的才是教会。
（未完待续 * 摘自《荣耀的教会》第二章 夏娃的预表 * 06-05）
【06 神从亚当的睡造出夏娃－神从基督“非赎罪的死”造出教会】
我们已经说过，夏娃不是用土造的，而是用亚当作原料造的。亚当是夏娃的原料，基督是教会的原料。神是用基督来造教会。现在我们要看，夏娃是怎样造成的，教会是怎样造成的。
创世记二章二十一至二十三节：“耶和华神使他沉睡，他就睡了；于是取下他的一条肋骨，又把肉合起来。耶和华神就用那人身上所取的肋骨，造成一个女人，领她到那人跟前。那人说，这是我骨中的骨，肉中的肉，可以称她为女人，因为她是从男人身上取出来的。”
神是从基督的死造出教会来。关于基督的死，在这里所用的字眼是非常特别的。在这里说，“耶和华神使他沉睡。”神不是使亚当死，乃是使亚当沉睡。如果是死，那就有罪的问题发生，因为上文十七节说，死是与罪发生关系的。这里亚当的睡，是预表基督“非赎罪的死”。基督的死，有一部分不是为着赎罪的，乃是为着释放祂自己的。我们不是说，基督的死不是为着赎罪；我们的的确确相信基督的死是为着赎罪的。但是，基督的死还有一部分是“非赎罪的”，乃是要将祂自己拿出来造教会，那一部分是与罪无关的。 神从基督拿出那一部分来，用“睡”来预表人如何从基督身上得着生命。
救赎和得生命是两件事。救赎是消极的，是对付我们的罪的。我们有罪，我们应当死，基督来担当我们的罪，基督的死成功了救赎，这一部分的死是和罪有关系的。但是，在基督的死里面，还有一部分，不是为着赎罪的，乃是为着要将祂自己给我们，藉着祂的死，给我们得生命。
亚当的睡，不是为着夏娃得救赎，乃是为着取一条肋骨造夏娃（那时罪还没有来，创世记三章的故事还在后面）。夏娃是藉着亚当而生，因为亚当睡了，她才能够得着生命。照样，在基督的死里，有一部分就是为着使教会得生命。
当亚当沉睡之后，神从他的身上取出一条肋骨来。我们知道在基督的死里，也有一部分是摸着祂的肋旁的（参约十九31～37）。祂的肋旁被刺，不是为着救赎，因为那是等到祂死了以后才作的，那时救赎的问题已经过去了。按犹太人的规矩，在日落以前，必须把被钉在十字架上的人收去，如果被钉的人没有死掉，兵丁就要把他们的骨头打断，使他们快一点死。那两个强盗还没有死，所以把他们的骨头打断了。但是兵丁来到主耶稣面前，看见祂已经死了，就不用打断祂的骨头，只用枪在祂的肋旁刺一下，血流出来了，水也流出来了。换句话说，当主肋旁被枪刺的时候，救赎的工作已经完成了。这就使我们看见：基督的工作不只替我们流血赎罪，并且也流出水来，表明祂将生命分给我们，这是在赎罪的死之外的。换句话说，血是对付我们的罪，水是使我们得着祂的生命。这是肋旁的枪伤所对我们说的话。
我们必须分别基督的死的两方面。基督的死有一方面是为着赎罪的，还有一方面不是为着赎罪的。一方面是为着应付创世记三章以后的事，就是人堕落以后的事。人堕落了，基督来为我们赎罪，目的是要引我们回到神创造人的目的里去。但是，还有一方面根本与罪无关，完全是为着释放祂自己的生命，使人可以得着祂的生命。
因有这两方面不同的死，所以圣经就用两种不同的东西来代表，赎罪的死就用血，非赎罪的死就用水。求神开我们的眼睛，使我们看见这是一件重大的事。血是为着赎罪，水是为着给我们生命。血是因为我们犯了罪，在神的面前有了罪而有的。水是代表祂自己，代表祂的生命。
还不只这样，我们再看创世记二章二十二至二十三节：“耶和华神就用那人身上所取的肋骨，造成一个女人，领她到那人跟前。那人说，这是我骨中的骨，肉中的肉…。”在圣经里曾说我们这些人是“血肉之体”（参林前十五50），但是说到复活的人却只有“骨和肉”，并没有提到血（参路二四39）。神是用亚当的肋骨造夏娃，神没有用血。全部圣经中有四百多次提到“血”，但是创世记二章里没有提到“血”，这是为什么？因为在这里不是救赎的问题。提到血就摸到救赎，因为有救赎所以有血。旧约里记载人用牲畜的血赎罪。新约里希伯来书说，没有血，罪就不得赦免（九22）。所以无论从旧约来看也好，从新约来看也好，血是与救赎连起来的。但是在夏娃的创造里没有提到血，为什么？因为没有罪，因为根本上神就没有看见罪。
所以，夏娃的创造，乃是为着满足神的心意。创造夏娃是创世记二章的事，三章还没有到，罪还没有进来。罪没有进来以先，人与神之间，没有道德责任的问题发生，人在神的手中什么问题都没有。所以在创世记二章里发生的事，都是为着应付神自己的需要，不是为着应付人的缺憾。创世记二章神造夏娃的事，使我们看见神对于祂的教会所定规的是从永世到永世。
所以，神在永世里有祂自己的旨意，要得着人掌权，要用人打破撒但所有的工作。这是神对于教会的旨意。这到将来的永世里要完全得着应验。神就是要得着这样的教会，是神从基督“非赎罪的死”造出，以夏娃为预表的教会，来满足祂的心。
（分享完毕 * 摘自《荣耀的教会》第二章 夏娃的预表 * 06-06）
【01 GOD INTENDS THE CHURCH TO REIGN WITH CHRIST】
In creation two persons were created: one was Adam and the other was Eve. Both were created human beings, but each typify something different. Romans 5 says that Adam was a figure of the man who was to come. Adam, then, foreshadowed Christ; he portrayed Christ in figure. In other words, all that God purposed in Adam was to be achieved in Christ.
But besides Adam in the creation, there was also the woman, Eve. God very carefully recorded the creation of this woman in Genesis 2, and when we come to Ephesians 5 we are clearly told that Eve typifies the church. Therefore, we can see that God’s eternal will is achieved partly through Christ and partly through the church. In order for us to understand how the church can achieve God’s will on earth, we must learn from Eve.We are not focusing our thoughts upon the work of Christ, but upon the position the church occupies in relation to that work.
When we read Genesis 2:18-24 and Ephesians 5:22-32 we find that a woman is mentioned in both places. In Genesis 2 there is a woman, and in Ephesians 5 there is also a woman. The first woman is a sign typifying the church; the second woman is the first woman. The first woman was planned by God before the foundation of the world and before the fall. The second woman was also planned before the foundation of the world, but was revealed after the fall. Although one appeared before the fall and the other after, there is no difference in God’s sight: the church is the Eve of Genesis 2. God created Adam to typify Christ; God also created Eve to typify the church. God’s purpose is not only accomplished by Christ but is also accomplished by the church.
In Genesis 2:18, the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper for him.” God’s purpose in creating the church is that she may be the helper of Christ. Christ alone is only half; there must be another half, which is the church. God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” This means that in God’s sight Christ alone is not good enough. Genesis 2:18-24 reiterates the events of the sixth day of creation. On the sixth day God created Adam, but afterward it seems that He considered a little and said, “No, it is not good that the man should be alone.” Therefore, He created Eve for Adam. By then, everything was completed, and we find that Genesis 1 ends with this record: “And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good” (v. 31). From this we realize that having Adam alone, or we may say, having Christ alone, is not enough to satisfy God’s heart. With God there must also be Eve, that is, there must also be the church. Then His heart will be satisfied.
The Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” In other words, God desired to have both Adam and Eve. His purpose is to have a victorious Christ plus a victorious church, a Christ who has overcome the work of the devil plus a church which has overthrown the work of the devil. His purpose is to have a ruling Christ and a ruling church. This is what God planned for His own pleasure, and He has performed it for His own satisfaction. It has been done because God desired to do it. God desired to have Christ, and God also desired to have a church which is exactly like Christ. God not only desired that Christ would have dominion, He also wants the church to have dominion. In warfare Christ needs a helper, and even in glory He also needs a helper. God requires the church to be the same as Christ in every respect. It is God’s desire that Christ should have a helper.
Therefore, God's purpose is that Christ should have a helper, which is the church typified by Eve, and He also intends the church to reign with Christ.
(To Be Continued * From THE GLORIOUS CHURCH By WATCHMAN NEE CHAPTER TWO - THE TYPE OF EVE * 06-01)
【02 EVE CAME OUT OF ADAM, THE CHURCH COMES OUT OF CHRIST】
Adam needed a helper. What did God do to meet this need? Genesis 2:19-20 says, “And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper for him.” God brought every kind of living creature before Adam, but Adam could not find his helper among them. None of the living creatures made out of earth could be a helper for Adam.
Therefore, “the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (vv. 21-23). This one was Adam’s helper and the figure of the church in Ephesians 5. The Bible says very clearly that all of the things made of earth and not taken out of the body of Adam could not be his helper. All the beasts of the field, the cattle, and the birds of the air were made of earth. They were not taken out of Adam; therefore, they could not be the helper to Adam. We must remember that Eve was formed out of a rib taken from Adam; therefore, Eve was the constituent of Adam. This means that the church comes out of Christ. Only that which is out of Christ can be the church. Anything that is not of Christ is not the church.
We should then ask, “What is the church?” The church is that part which is taken out of Christ. We need to see the two aspects of Adam, and then it will be easy for us to understand. On one hand, Adam stands merely as himself; on the other hand, he is a type. As far as Adam himself is concerned, he was made of clay. All natural men are made of clay. But Adam also typified Christ. The fact that Eve was made from Adam signifies that the church is made from Christ. Eve was made with Adam’s rib. Since Eve came out from Adam, she was still Adam. Then what is the church? The church is another form of Christ, just as Eve was another form of Adam.
The church is just Christ. Oh, there are many people who think that the church is the coming together of the “people” who believe in the Lord and who are saved. No, this is not true! Then who constitutes the church? The church is only that portion which has been taken out of Christ. In other words, it is the man which God has made by using Christ as the material. It is not a man made of clay. The material of the church is Christ. Without Christ, the church has no position, no life, no living, and no existence. The church comes out of Christ.
First Corinthians 10:17 says, “Seeing that there is one bread, we who are many are one Body.” This verse means that even though we are many, the bread which we break is one; therefore, the Body is also one. The apostle Paul clearly stated that the one loaf represents the Body of Christ, that is, the church as a whole. Though we are many, yet the Body is one. When we remember the Lord, I take a little piece from the loaf, you take a little piece from the loaf, and others do the same. For many centuries throughout the world, all Christians have taken a little portion of this loaf and eaten it! If you could take all the pieces they have eaten and put them together, they would become the whole church.
The church is not an individual “I” plus an individual “you.” It is not Mr. Smith plus Mr. Jones or even all the Christians in the whole world put together. The church is the Christ in you, the Christ in him, and the Christ in all the Christians around the world throughout all the centuries put together. Our natural man has nothing to do with the church. The only part of us which is related to the church is the portion of the loaf which we have eaten.
(To Be Continued * From THE GLORIOUS CHURCH By WATCHMAN NEE CHAPTER TWO - THE TYPE OF EVE * 06-02)
【03 THE CHURCH IS COMPOSED OF THAT WHICH IS OUT OF CHRIST】
The church is composed of that which is out of Christ. Man’s talent, ability, thought, strength, and all that he has are outside the church. Everything that comes from the natural life is outside the church, and anything that is brought into the church of the natural life will only result in a tearing down, not a building up. Only that which comes out of Christ is in the church. Eve was not made from clay, but from Adam, the one who typified Christ. The preciousness is that God took a rib from Adam and made Eve. Only that which came out from Adam, not from clay, can be called “Eve,” and only that which comes from Christ can be called the church. Whatever is not from Christ has nothing to do with the church.
Some people were very frank before they believed in the Lord. After they were saved, they used their frankness to serve God. They considered their natural frankness to be quite useful; they were proud of it. But from what source does their frankness come? Is it from Christ? Has it been dealt with by the cross? Oh, if it is not out of Christ, if it has never been dealt with by the cross, it is of no use to the church! Eve was constituted only of that which came out of Adam, and the church, likewise, is constituted only of that which is out of Christ. Whatever is of man himself is not the church.
Some people were very eloquent before they believed. It was so easy for them to narrate and describe something to others. After they are saved, they just change the subject matter and begin to preach. But we should not consider it sufficient that such people can preach well. Rather, we should ask, “From what source does their eloquence come? Has it been dealt with by the cross?” If their eloquence is that which they originally had and has never been dealt with by the cross, then it is entirely from their own nature. The eloquence which they bring into the church will be something of the earthly Adam. The church will actually be pulled down by these people. Only that which comes out of Christ is the church; nothing which comes out of human nature is the church.
We may also meet some people who are very clever. Their minds are exceptionally keen. Before they were saved, they used their mind to study philosophy, science, and literature. After they are saved, they simply use their mind to study God’s Word. But we must ask, “From where does this keen mind come? Has it been dealt with by the cross? Is it under the control of the Holy Spirit? Or is it just that mind which they had originally?”If this is so, it is simply something out of the earthly Adam, out of the man himself, the human nature; it is something of the flesh. Although these people have changed the subject, their mind is still the same old mind! And when they use this mind to study the Bible, instead of helping the church, they will cause the church to suffer loss. Only that which is out of Christ can be the church. Whatever is of man is not the church.
God must deal with us to such a degree that everything from our human nature will be brought under control. Our natural strength must be dealt with by the cross and subjected to the rule of the Holy Spirit. Only then will we not cause the church to suffer loss. Everything which issues from the natural, Adamic life within us is made of earth and not wanted by God. Only that which was made of Adam’s rib was Eve. (The bone refers to the resurrection life. When the Lord was on the cross, not one of His bones was broken.) Only that which is formed from the resurrection life of Christ is the church.
Eve must be made of the bone of Adam. Without the bone from Adam, there would have been no Eve. Adam’s helper is also Adam’s body, since the source of Eve’s life was his very bone. Adam was the basis of her existence. She could exist only because a part of Adam was in her. It is the same with the church. We need to continually declare to the Lord, “We owe everything to You. Without You we have no life, no existence, nothing! We come out of You!”
The vital issue of our new birth is just this: Repentance does not make us a part of the church; neither does our confession of sins nor our faith. Only the life which Christ has imparted to us makes us a part of the church. The basis of our being a part of the church is our new birth, since it is then that Christ imparts Himself to us. Therefore, there is a need for us to live, behave, and act according to this life, the life of Christ. God cannot do anything more for us than to impart His Son into us that we may share the life of Christ. Even though we are just earthen vessels, there is a great treasure within us. What then can shake us?
However, if we act according to ourselves, we are outside the church. Anything other than the portion of Christ in us is not the church; it is simply our own selves. If we work according to ourselves, we are not doing the Lord’s work. We must ask ourselves upon what basis and from what source we are serving the Lord, doing His work, pursuing spiritual things, and leading a spiritual walk. Is everything we do based upon Christ or based upon ourselves? If we do everything by Christ, we can accomplish God’s purpose, but if we do anything by ourselves, even though something is accomplished, it can only be of an earthly nature and cannot accomplish God’s eternal will.
(To Be Continued * From THE GLORIOUS CHURCH By WATCHMAN NEE CHAPTER TWO - THE TYPE OF EVE * 06-03)
【04 THE SPREADING OR INCREASE OF CHRIST AND THE CONSUMING OF OUR SELF】
God’s eternal purpose is to gain a man. This man is a corporate man coming out of Christ. It is the church. The church is not a matter of several Christians being put together with several other Christians. It is not so many “men”; it is a life. The church is the church only because there are many people who all share the same life, the same Christ. You have a portion of Christ, and he has a portion of Christ; each one of us has a portion of Christ. When all of these portions of Christ are put together, there is the church. We must be clear that God does not want individuals. In the sight of God there is only one Christ and only one church. In God’s eyes, He only sees two men in the whole world. First Corinthians 15 reveals that Adam is the first man and Christ is the last man. There are no others. The Body of Christ, just as Eve, is one—not many!
Therefore, even though we have God’s life within us, we still need God to work upon us to break our individualism. God must break down the thought that I myself am enough. We need to be one with all the rest of God’s children. There is only one Eve; likewise, there is only one Body of Christ. All of God’s children, all who share the life of Christ, are not many individual men and women; they are all one man. God must break our individualism. He must crush us day after day until we come to know the life of the Body.
There are many who think that they can be Christians all by themselves! But God will not allow this. Often their individual prayers are not answered, their personal study of the Scriptures does not enlighten them, and their individual seeking does not lead them to God’s will. If such a person would say to another brother or sister, “I just cannot get through this matter by myself, would you help me?”, and they prayed together, he would be clear eventually. Whatever he could not understand by himself, he would see clearly when an answer was sought with his brother. Such a person is often still proud, thinking that he can make it by himself most of the time, and that there are only a few times when he cannot get through. This is individualism. In the church individualism must be broken. We must allow the Christ in us and the Christ in all the other brothers and sisters to become knit together in one Body.
Many Christians know the life we have in Christ, but we must regretfully say, they do not know the life in the Body of Christ. Just as the life of Christ is a reality, the life of the Body of Christ is also a reality. Christians are not individuals; they are one. The apostle Paul said that though we are many, we are still one bread and one Body. If we live according to Christ, we are one with all other Christians. But if we live according to ourselves, we separate ourselves from all of God’s children.
Therefore, if the church is to become a real church, two steps are necessary: the spreading or increase of Christ and the consuming of our self. The spreading of Christ began when we were regenerated, and since we were saved, the Lord has been working on us day after day to consume our self. The Lord will continue to work until one day before God, we say, “There is not a single thing I can do by myself. Everything I do is done according to the principle of mutual help among the members. All that I do is according to the principle of fellowship, which is the principle of the Body.” The church is the Body of Christ. Only that which is of Christ is the church; whatever issues from man is not.
(To Be Continued * From THE GLORIOUS CHURCH By WATCHMAN NEE CHAPTER TWO - THE TYPE OF EVE * 06-04)
【05 THE SOURCE MUST BE CHRIST】
We must realize that God takes into account the source of things, not whether they are good or evil.
Men always ask, “Is this good or bad?” But God asks, “Where does it come from?” That which came from Adam was called Eve; likewise, that which comes from Christ is called the church. Anything which is not out of Christ is not the church. Men ask, “Do you have love?” But God asks, “Where does your love come from?” Men ask, “Are you zealous?” But God asks, “What is the source of your zeal?” We need to solve the matter of origin, not good or evil.
We often feel that we are quite able to love and help others by ourselves. To love and help others, of course, is good, but “if I deliver up my body that I may boast, but do not have love,” Christ’s love, “I profit nothing” (1 Cor. 13:3). Is it wrong to give ourselves to help others? The issue is still: Where does it come from? Only that which comes from Christ is the church. Anything that is not out of Christ has nothing to do with the church.
In our Christian life, the first lesson and last lesson we need to learn is to discern the source of things. The first lesson is to reject anything that comes from ourselves, and the last lesson is still to reject anything that comes from ourselves. This does not mean that we should not strive or be zealous, but the issue is that our striving and zeal must come from the Lord. We are not saying that we should not work, but we want work which is initiated by the Lord. We are not saying that we should not seek after power, but that we should seek the power which is from the Lord. This is the whole issue: From where does it originate?
In the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus once said, “The Son can do nothing from Himself ” (John 5:19). According to the Greek text, the word “from” can also be translated “out of.” This means that the Son can do nothing out of Himself. If this was the case with the Lord, then how much more it should be with us! How can we ever do anything from ourselves? We need to see before God that we can do nothing from ourselves. He must bring us to the place where we realize that we truly can do nothing from ourselves—everything must be by Him and out of Him.
When we serve the Lord, it is not enough to be zealous. No, we must do that work which the Lord assigns to us. In Colossians 1:29, Paul said, “For which also I labor, struggling according to His operation which operates in me in power.” God is working within us so we can work without. We often do many things outwardly, but not much has been done inwardly. God has not done that much within; most everything has been done by ourselves. This kind of work, even though it may be considerable, is of no use. In the matter of serving the Lord, God must bring us to a place that we do not want anything that is not from the Lord. If the Lord is not moving, then we will not dare move.
Eve was bone of Adam’s bone and flesh of his flesh. This signifies that the bones inside and the flesh outside are all out of Christ. Everything on the inside and everything on the outside are of Him; nothing can be from ourselves. Everything of Eve was out of Adam, and everything of the church is out of Christ. No matter how well we may do something, it is absolutely useless in achieving God’s eternal purpose. No matter how good something is, it cannot possibly glorify God if it issues from ourselves.
The first woman represents the woman who is after God’s heart. There was not only a man who expressed God’s heart, there was also a woman. It is not only Christ who satisfies God’s heart; it is also the church. Christ satisfies God’s heart, because He allows God to be His head. It must be the same with the church. She also must allow God to be her head. When the church reaches this position, the will of God will be done. God intends to have this kind of people on the earth, and when He does, His heart’s desire will be satisfied. Let us remember that whatever comes out from man’s self is just dust and not worthy of being the material for the helper. Only that which comes out from Christ is the church.
(To Be Continued * From THE GLORIOUS CHURCH By WATCHMAN NEE CHAPTER TWO - THE TYPE OF EVE * 06-05)
【06 EVE MADE FROM ADAM'S SLEEP— THE CHURCH PRODUCED THROUGH CHRIST'S "NON-REDEMPTIVE DEATH"】
We have already seen that Eve was not made of dust, but of Adam; Adam was the material of which Eve was made. Likewise, Christ is the material for the church. God used Christ to make the church. Now we will see how Eve was made, and how the church was made.
Let us read Genesis 2:21-23. “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
God brought forth the church out of the death of Christ. Regarding the death of Christ, the words in Genesis 2 are very special. It says, “The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam” (v. 21). This verse does not say that God caused Adam to die, but that He caused him to fall into a deep sleep. If death had been mentioned, then sin would be involved, because verse 17 in the preceding passage says that death and sin are related. Adam’s sleep typifies the aspect of Christ’s death which was not related to redemption. In the death of Christ there was an aspect which was not related to redemption but to the release of Himself. We are not saying that the death of Christ is not for redemption- we truly believe that it is- but His death involved an aspect which is not related to redemption. This aspect is the releasing of Himself for the creation of the church. It has nothing to do with sin. God is taking something out of Christ and using it to create the church. Therefore, “sleep” is used to typify His death through which man receives life.
Redemption and the receiving of life are two distinct things. Redemption involves a negative aspect of dealing with our sins. We have sinned and deserve to die; therefore, Christ came to bear our sins. His death accomplished redemption for us. This aspect of His death is related to sin. But there is another aspect of His death which is not related to redemption: It is the imparting of Himself to us so that through His death we may receive life.
Adam’s sleep was not for Eve’s redemption; it was so that a rib could be taken out for her creation. (Sin had not yet entered the scene—that account is in Genesis 3.) Eve came into existence through Adam. Eve was able to receive life because Adam slept. In the same manner, an aspect of the death of Christ is for the imparting of life to the church.
When Adam fell into a deep sleep, God took a rib from him. Likewise, when Christ died, something happened to His rib, His side (see John 19:31-37). His side was not pierced for redemption, because the piercing occurred after His death. The problem of redemption had already been solved. According to Jewish custom, whoever was crucified had to be taken away before sunset. If they were not dead, the soldiers would break their bones to speed their death. The two thieves who were crucified with the Lord had not died; therefore, their bones were broken. But when the soldiers looked at the Lord Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His bones. Instead, they pierced His side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. This signifies that when His side was pierced, the work of redemption had already been accomplished. It reveals that the work of Christ not only involved the shedding of His blood to redeem us from sins, but also the flowing out of water, typifying the imparting of His life to us.This aspect is apart from sin and redemption. The blood deals with our sins, while the water causes us to receive His life. This is what His wounded side speaks to us.
We all need to clearly distinguish these two aspects of Christ’s death. One is for redemption, while the other is not for redemption. The first aspect of His death deals with all that happened after man’s fall in Genesis 3. Since man fell, Christ came to redeem us in order to bring us back to the original purpose of God’s creation of man. But the other aspect of His death has nothing to do with sins. It is entirely for the releasing of His life, that His life may be imparted into us.
Because of these two distinct aspects in the death of Christ, the Bible uses two different substances to typify them. Blood is used for redemption; water is used for thenon-redemptive aspect. May God open our eyes to see the importance of this matter. The blood is for redemption, and the water is for the imparting of His life. Because we have committed sins and are sinful before God, the blood is ever before Him, speaking for our sins. But the water typifies the Lord Himself as life.
This is not all. Let us read Genesis 2:22 and 23 again: “And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.” In one place in the Scriptures, we are referred to as “flesh and blood” (1 Cor. 15:50), but when the Scriptures refer to man in resurrection, he is described only as “flesh and bones”; there is no mention of blood (see Luke 24:39). God used Adam’s rib to make Eve; He did not use Adam’s blood. Throughout the whole Bible, the word blood is mentioned more than four hundred times, but in Genesis 2 there is no mention of blood because the matter of redemption was not at issue. Whenever blood is mentioned, redemption is involved. Blood is for redemption. The Old Testament records how man used the blood of beasts for atonement of sins. In the New Testament, Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament, we see that blood is related to redemption. But in the creation of Eve, blood was not mentioned because there was no sin; God saw no sin there.
Therefore the creation of Eve was for the satisfaction of God’s heart’s desire. The creation of Eve is recorded in Genesis 2, before the events in Genesis 3 came to pass. There was no problem of moral responsibility between God and man because sin had not yet entered. Man had no problem with God; therefore, all the events recorded in Genesis 2 were for the purpose of meeting the needs of God Himself, not to deal with the shortcomings of man. God’s creation of Eve in Genesis 2 shows how God purposed to have His church from eternity to eternity.
Therefore God’s plan in eternity was for man to exercise His authority and spoil all the work of Satan. This is God’s purpose for the church, and it will all be fulfilled in the coming eternity. God desires to obtain such a church - a church brought forth from Christ’s “Non-Redemptive Death” and typified by Eve - to satisfy His heart.
(To Be Continued * From THE GLORIOUS CHURCH By WATCHMAN NEE CHAPTER TWO - THE TYPE OF EVE * 06-06)